Small shops hold great potential in Kunming

Nowadays, small shops are bustling everywhere. On Nanqiang Street in Kunming city, capital of Yunnan province, market stalls sell delicacies and exquisite handmade products. Here, crowds come and go.

People with grilled tofu and a cup of fruit tea in hand, may also buy handmade decorations from vendors along the street. Similar online shops, roadside stores, and street vendors are emerging, as well.

According to Yunnan Daily, there is garden of succulents called Gumupai in Kunming. Xie Xin and her husband relocated to Kunming from Anhui province in 2018, seizing the business opportunity in succulent planting and they have built a cultivation base.

Here, they not only sell succulents but also provide planting and caring services. They number the succulents, label them with the customer's name, and name the fostered area after the place names in Jin Yong's novels. Adapting to new demands and developing new services make their small shop better.

Similarly, some vendors who started their own businesses by setting up stalls are creative in making new products. Although the output can be limited, they are unique indeed. The development of online small business economy is also rapid. Various shops on WeChat are growing, too.

Unlike some leading e-commerce platforms, these online small shops may not accumulate a large number of customers, but they can meet personalized needs such as user consultation, individualized shopping needs, and experience sharing.

They also help promote brands for some merchants and increase the sales volume of certain products. Although they seem small in size, their potential should not be underestimated.

The small business economy brings vitality to the city, offers new experiences to many consumers, and meanwhile, it provides a platform for entrepreneurship for some. Finally, it injects vitality into economic development.

Source: Yunnan Daily; trans-editing by Wang Yunya